Java is the common, business oriented language of today. How do you you think it's not like the original COmmon Business Oriented Language? It's being used by the same sorts of guys to write the same sorts of apps, no?
Same is true of the original COBOL. If you can imagine back as far as the 1960, COBOL and FORTRAN are the cutting edge, every talented and ambitious programmer is trying to get in on this new tech, they are amazed at the productivity and they are writing apps that do hitherto impossible things.
You are no different from them, you were just born a few decades later (same for me). Except, you can look back and learn from their experiences, if you are wise.